THE GUV'NOR

Peter Eveleigh

When are

individuals

going to be held responsible for their actions asks the licensee of the Riverside Inn, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire

I am not a telly person, save a bit of channel hopping while chilling out at the day's end. Last week's viewing produced a telling indictment of how different current political thinking seems to be when compared to traditional values.

Against the backdrop of the party-conference season - where point scoring, spin and political correctness seem all pervasive - I was awe struck by the shear dignity and composure of the Burmese monks as they marched for their democratic rights.

Then there was Natasha Kaplinsky investigating her family tree, unearthing the dreadful plight of her ancestors in eastern Poland during the early days of World War II. Finally, This Week contained a truly extraordinary interview with this country's latest holder of the Victoria Cross, a private soldier, Private Johnson Beharry, who was spellbinding as he recounted the action leading to his award.

Back to the present-day reality of our industry - increased costs (wages and holiday entitlement); further punitive legislation on the sale of tobacco, alongside the ongoing purge against underage sales and binge drinking; increased pressure for reviews arising from folk smoking in the street - the list goes on and on.

At a recent community safety partnership meeting, I asked the police how many youngsters had been arrested for drinking/being drunk underage. Silly question.

How many times have we said that folk are responsible for their own actions? When is the political emphasis going to shift away from the PC onslaught of minority pressure groups? When are the distortions arising from this going to stop? Give me the values of Private Johnson Beharry any day.